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SYNOPSIS
16th day since the large-scale invasion of Russia to Ukraine. Masha (8) is on a desperate quest for food for her ill mother in a dying Mariupol. Amidst the chaos, she encounters Sasha (11), an emaciated boy who has lost his family. In his companionship, Masha rediscovers the innocence of childhood, but their bond is tested when a secret she harbors becomes a root of discord.
Help us bring to life the
story of two children
whose childhoods were
shattered by war
March 6, 2022. Ukrainian - Polish border. 11pm. It took me and my elderly parents 2 days to get here from my hometown Kyiv and it's been 7th hour since we started crossing the border by foot. I turn around to see a crowd of tens of thousands of people, mostly women with children and animals. I have plenty of time to hear their stories, often horrid in their impossible bald truth. Two women from a destroyed district of Saltivka in Kharkiv tell me how they were living in a cold, moldy basement with their children for days without a chance to get upstairs to take warm blankets and food. Surprisingly, most of these women are not even ill. I can feel how adrenaline determined their will to survive and save their children. I'm surprised that their children don't cry.
And most of the children I meet here who escaped areas like Bucha and Irpin don't cry. Kids tell me their stories. They've all suddenly become older. Some of them even comfort their parents. They're reasonable and grounded, I see wisdom in their eyes - that's how old they've become.
Later on I meet people who survived Mariupol occupation and they are telling me the stories beyond imagination: survival during aviation bombing, starvation, burying their friends in the courtyards, drinking technical water, and many privations since the start of the war. Every story was unique in its own horrific truth.
That's how RAT script was born.
WRITER'S EXPERIENCE
darina
dorogan
DIRECTOR'S EXPERIENCE
My wife and I evacuated our children on February 25th when Russians started bombing places around the village we lived in near Kyiv. Our home was shaking because of powerful explosions, and we started to pack but for our kids, it was more than just scary - they did not accept the reality of what was happening. They didn't cry, they were calm. There was a shootout at the checkpoint where we were stuck in traffic for good. When our car was jammed with other cars so that we couldn't get out and automatically bursts sounded. Our older daughter asked me in an absolutely calm voice: "Dad, are we going to die?"
During the days of evacuation, our children adapted very quickly. They realized that it was necessary to stop under the trees so that we would not be seen by helicopters, and that if we needed it could relieve ourselves for a moment in an open field despite cold February. In early March I sorted hundreds of photographs from Mariupol, Irpin, and Bucha to send them to the Canadian CBC News channel. I was struck by the video of a little boy about eight years old. His parents were killed, but he continued to sit near their graves in the yard, and he was talking to them, thinking that they were alive and were going to respond. The poor child was unable to understand and accept that the parents are no longer there. The characters of Masha and Sasha for me are collective characters of all those children who became victims of the war.
MISHA KOSTROV
VALUES
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Rat offers an unfiltered portrayal of war's impact on children, pushing them into adulthood prematurely and revealing the erosion of their innocence.
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The film unveils the complexity of human behavior in extreme circumstances, showing that in times of desperation, there are no clear distinctions between good and bad. Instead, children quickly adapt, adopting adult roles, sometimes resorting to morally gray actions to survive.
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The film explores profound care amidst chaos, with Sasha's protectiveness and Masha's love for her mother. It highlights resilience, resourcefulness, and humanity, exploring the potential of redemption in the darkest times.
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It goes beyond the war in Ukraine as we want to convey universal values ​​that will be relatable to all people on our planet.
CHARACTERS
Masha
MASHA, an eight-year-old girl in devastated Mariupol, embarks on an apparently irrational quest to find food for her mother. Her actions reflect a child's attempt to maintain sanity in an insane world.
sasha
SASHA, is a few years older and more aware of the horrors surrounding them. His task is to protect Masha. Both characters operate with purpose and rationality, devoid of drama or excess emotion. Their world has desensitized them to chaos.
LATEST TECHNOLOGIES
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We partner with Allard VP, a virtual Production company based in Amsterdam. They're revolutionizing the virtual production landscape by making high-end technology accessible to all. By leveraging powerful projection systems instead of traditional LED volumes, they lower production costs and open new creative possibilities in the industry.
Their use of Unreal Engine with Multi-User Editing allows for real-time scene modifications, ensuring quick and effective changes that align with our vision. They seamlessly blend physical and virtual lighting through DMX control, creating immersive environments.
We will be able to build a virtual, but very detailed setup of Mariupol city during the first weeks of Russian invasion. Using the real footages combined with 3D technology and real materials to build a floor and rubbles it will look painfully realistic, allowing us to immerse our characters and viewers into a heart touching story based on real events.
Misha Kostrov, Ukrainian-Canadian award-winning filmmaker, dramaturgist, and a practicing psychotherapist with a specialization in trauma.
Dewi Evita Reijs, founder of Buddy Film Productions, award winning Dutch producer, actress, writer and film/theater maker.
Darina Dorogan, Ukrainian screenwriter and published author, co-producer and a volunteer.
Farhad Vilkiji, award-winning Dutch/Persian film director and production designer. EFA (European Film Academy) member.
Igor Riabchuk, head of Virtual Production at Allard VP- global full service virtual production studio based in Amsterdam.
Ernie Tee, script coach, script editor and dramaturge that has worked on the development of numerous films and television series. Received the Pierre Bayle Prize for film criticism.
Milena Kompaniiets, acting coach with degrees in directing and psychology. She has extensive experience in films, teaching acting to children and adults.
why
support
us
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
By supporting RAT you also support Ukrainian filmmakers and young Ukrainian actors alongside a diverse international crew of different gender and ethnicity.
ARTISTIC SIGNIFICANCE AND HUMANITARIAN IMPACT
By funding RAT, you promote a film that harnesses the power of art, our talents, and new technologies to inspire change and provoke deep reflection, leaving a lasting impression on viewers and fostering a more compassionate and informed world.
GLOBAL AWARNESS
RAT serves as a powerful reminder of Ukraine tragedy as well as ongoing global tragedies often obscured by daily routines. You will help raise awareness, making a tangible impact on pressing these issues.
LEGACY AND MEANINGFUL STORYTELLING
You will become a part of the professional team of like-minded individuals (see our rewards!) and leave your signature in the film history forever. We plan not only to submit the film to top world festivals, but also to use the film as an educational and enlightening material after the festival run, as well as to distribute it in open access on social networks and video platform to reach wide audiences.
donate
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rewards
€30 or more
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We will send personalized digital thank you card.
​
€75 or more
After we finish the film:
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Souvenir from Ukraine
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We will put your name as a sponsor in the titles
​
€150 or more
After we finish the film:
-
Souvenir from Ukraine
-
We will put your name as a sponsor in the titles
-
Access to the backstage materials: photos and videos
-
​Ticket to Allard VP - entry ticket to a virtual production studio in Amsterdam
​
€500 or more
After we finish the film:
-
Souvenir from Ukraine
-
We will put your name as a sponsor in the titles
-
Access to the backstage materials: photos and videos
-
​Ticket to Allard VP - entry ticket to a virtual production studio in Amsterdam
-
Ticket to the festival event with our film screening (in the nearest city ​​to the backer's location)
​
€1.000 or more
After we finish the film:
-
Souvenir from Ukraine
-
We will put your name as a sponsor in the titles
-
Access to the backstage materials: photos and videos
-
​Ticket to Allard VP - entry ticket to a virtual production studio in Amsterdam
-
Ticket to the festival event with our film screening (in the nearest city ​​to the backer's location)
-
Live 15 min call with the producer, director or writer at your
​
€1.500 or more
After we finish the film:
-
Souvenir from Ukraine
-
We will put your name as a sponsor in the titles
-
Access to the backstage materials: photos and videos
-
​Ticket to Allard VP - entry ticket to a virtual production studio in Amsterdam
-
Ticket to the festival event with our film screening (in the nearest city ​​to the backer's location)
-
Live 15 min call with the producer, director or writer at your choice
-
Access to the set in Netherlands as an observer during the shooting and taking photos with the team and autographs (travel expenses are not covered) - an amazing opportunity to learn and experience live film shoot
​
€2.000 or more
After we finish the film:
-
Souvenir from Ukraine
-
We will put your name as a sponsor in the titles
-
Access to the backstage materials: photos and videos
-
​Ticket to Allard VP - entry ticket to a virtual production studio in Amsterdam
-
Ticket to the festival event with our film screening (in the nearest city ​​to the backer's location)
-
Live 15 min call with the producer, director or writer at your choice
-
Access to the set in Netherlands as an observer during the shooting and taking photos with the team and autographs (travel expenses are not covered) - an amazing opportunity to learn and experience live film shoot
-
We will put you in the titles of the film as a member of the production crew
​
€3.000 or more
After we finish the film:
-
Souvenir from Ukraine
-
Your name/company name as a sponsor in the titles + on poster
-
Access to the backstage materials: photos and videos
-
​Ticket to Allard VP - entry ticket to a virtual production studio in Amsterdam
-
Ticket to the festival event with our film screening (in the nearest city ​​to the backer's location)
-
Live 15 min call with the producer, director or writer at your choice
-
Access to the set in Netherlands as an observer during the shooting and taking photos with the team and autographs (travel expenses are not covered) - an amazing opportunity to learn and experience live film shoot
-
We will put you in the titles of the film as a member of the production crew
-
Your company logo in the titles and your company/organization name in stories and posts in both IG+FB page dedicated to the film for 3 months
​
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help
us
spread
our
mission!
thank
you!
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